Where Does the Aukus Security Pact Stand Under Trump?

In an effort to counter China’s military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, Australia, the UK and the US signed a defense accord, known as Aukus (“AW-kus”), in 2021. Central to the agreement is a controversial project — expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars — to help Australia develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines over a 30-year period.

The future of the Biden-era security agreement has been uncertain ever since President Donald Trump returned to office, especially after his administration commissioned a review of Aukus in June. But on Oct. 20 during a meeting with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trump declared “full steam ahead,” signalling his support for maintaining the pact and potentially even accelerating it.